VHP threatens stir against land encroachment in Jammu

Jammu, May 23: Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) today said it would launch an agitation if encroachments on state lands were not removed as per the directions of the J&K High Court.

"We warn administration that if illegal encroachments are not removed in all the areas of Jammu city, a state-wide agitation will be launched against the state and responsibility of which will be on state administration," VHP state president Lila Karan Sharma told reporters here today.

On May 13, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court directed Jammu Development Authority (JDA) to formulate an action plan for complete removal of encroachments on 66,436 kanals of prime land in Jammu district. JDA has launched an anti-encroachment drive and nearly 250 kanals have been cleared.

The drive is in process. "The action of JDA in compliance with the court order to evict the encroachers from the state or JDA lands is a welcome step. The anti-encroachment drive must be vigorously enforced and encroachers on government, JDA or forest lands should be immediately thrown out," Sharma said.

Verma: Encroachers of land in Gole Gujral are being protected by politicians

"The encroachers of land in Gole Gujral are being protected by politicians and people sitting in administration. While JDA has demolished houses constructed by a particular community, it has provided some land (over 35 kanala of prime land) to encroachers who are still residing on JDA land," he alleged.

"If well-constructed houses in Gole were demolished by the JDA, why they failed to launch anti-encroachment drive in Belicharana area on the banks of river Tawi," he questioned.